Abstract
In this article, a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Ka$ </tex-math></inline-formula> -band satellite communication (SATCOM) transceiver is first presented using a standard CMOS technology. The proposed <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Ka$ </tex-math></inline-formula> -band SATCOM transceiver consists of a high-linearity transmitter (TX) and dual-channel receiver (RX); both TX and RX are based on direct-conversion architecture. By implementing the dual-channel RX, multiple multiplexing modes, including polarization multiplexing and frequency multiplexing, can be enabled depending on the application. The RX variable gain is distributed in both RF blocks and baseband blocks to achieve a wide input dynamic range. The LNA employs a dual-coupling transformer for a low-noise figure (NF) and wideband input matching; moreover, it enhances the amplifier unilateralization characteristic to mitigate the loading effect from switched attenuators. An adjacent channel interference (ACI) cancellation scheme is proposed to further enhance the RX linearity in the frequency multiplexing mode. In the TX, single-turn high-quality-factor transformer is employed to realize matching network and four-way power combining. A prototype of the SATCOM transceiver is fabricated in a standard 65-nm CMOS process. Under 1.05-V supply voltage, the TX achieves a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$P_{\mathrm {SAT}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 20.5 dBm and an average output power of 12 dBm with 2% error vector magnitude (EVM) and a 37.6-dB ACPR. The dual-channel RX achieves an NF of 5.4 dB, an IIP3 of −30 dBm on the high-gain mode, the ACI cancellation is measured of 7.9 dB with a 100-MHz signal bandwidth.
Highlights
T HE artificial satellites have been invented for more than half a century to obtain a wide spherical view on the earth and realize long-distance instant communication around the world
The low earth orbit (LEO) satellites are much closer to the earth than a geostationary orbit (GEO) one; both the smaller signal propagation time delay and lower free-space path loss (FSPL) featured in LEO are essential to a reliable high-speed satellite communication (SATCOM) link establishment
The TX is located at the top side, the dual-channel RX is located at the lower side, and the RF input/output ports and the LO ports are located at the left- and right-hand sides, respectively
Summary
T HE artificial satellites have been invented for more than half a century to obtain a wide spherical view on the earth and realize long-distance instant communication around the world. The LEO satellites are much closer to the earth than a GEO one; both the smaller signal propagation time delay and lower free-space path loss (FSPL) featured in LEO are essential to a reliable high-speed SATCOM link establishment. Another promotion on the development of LEO satellites is that the advancement of economy space launch to the LEO makes the large-scale LEO satellite constellation possible for private companies.
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